Expedited Diamond Buying: How It Works With Our Team
For most clients starting an engagement ring process, the purchase of the feature diamond is the most expensive variable to the piece. Whether you are selecting a natural mined diamond or a lab created option, the center diamond is a significant element to the overall design picture. But, more often than not, it’s also the part of the process that feels the most opaque to clients at the outset. Not many people really know what goes into selecting the right diamond, and with all the marketing out there trying to convince you of a single direction, it can be hard to see through the weeds and into the right direction…
Sourcing Ethically Considered Sapphires
More and more, clients are approaching our services with a keen eye towards ethical consideration in their gemstone sourcing process. We love this, because it’s an element of jewelry design that, for these clients, imbues their piece with more thought and meaning…
Heirloom Redesign Idea: Cluster Rings
One of our specialties here at Alx&Co. is working with clients to redesign sentimental or antique pieces in order to breath new life into them. Sometimes, clients come with one piece that they want transformed into something new. Other times, they might have a collection of different pieces that we can pull from. In either case, we sometimes are left with a small pile of mismatched diamonds or gemstones and need to figure out a way to set them seamlessly together.
Art Deco Design
Art Deco-Inspired design is a personal favorite here at Alx&Co. and we get many requests for custom and bespoke rings that reference this era. It’s easy to see why the aesthetic is so popular: done well, Art Deco design balances intricacy with simplicity and often suites people who want something that feels extremely special without feeling frilly…
Creating a Mood Board for Design Inspiration
We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again: deciding what you want for your bespoke design can be a daunting challenge these days. The good news is, you have all the options in the world at your fingertips with endless inspiration streaming from Instagram, Pinterest, and Google every day. The bad news is, it can be very, very difficult to discern design you simply find beautiful from design you find beautiful for yourself…
What a Difference Metal Choice Makes!
When it comes to color choice for your setting, some people have a precise idea of what they like and some people really vary in their decision. Personally, I hold a solid preference for yellow gold in most pieces for myself. That being said, I like the look of platinum for other people and love the seamless look it brings. I also think that in most antique-inspired rings, platinum really reigns supreme. During consultations I explain to clients that a yellow gold setting will draw the eye towards the whole ring so that you notice the design as much as you do the diamond…
Designing For Your Lifestyle
In this profession, the internet is both our best friend and our worst enemy. On the one hand, our clients are able to come to their design consultations fully armed with plenty of ideas, photos, and knowledge that they can use to design their perfect ring. On the other hand, there is SO MUCH out there, and unless you really know jewelry, it can be difficult to really understand the difference between a good design idea and a bad design idea…
Sourcing Gemstones with Alx&Co.
For many clients, a design can barely begin without first figuring out the feature stone. Unless you are working with an heirloom redesign, most clients don’t have loose gemstones available to use and most designs are completely contingent upon that feature stone for everything from budget considerations to design proportion allowances…
Introducing The Stargazer Collection
We are thrilled to introduce to you the newest additions to our Alx&Co. lineup… The Stargazer Collection! Like our other Collection items, this daily-wear ensemble was created with customization in mind…
A Gorgeous Idea for Loose Diamonds
One of the most common requests we get for redesign work is to reset a family diamond in a more wearable setting. Many of our clients have either inherited jewelry from family members that isn’t their style, or they come to us because they are interested in resetting a diamond setting from a previous marriage into a different - less engagement feeling - design…